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By Francis Ewherido
October 2, 2017, started with a heavy downpour. Lagosians understand that to mean trouble because the whole city – from Lekki to Victoria Island and Ikoyi; Surulere to Yaba, down Ikorodu Road to Maryland, Ikeja, Ojota, Ketu, Mile 12, down to Ikorodu Town; Oshodi down to Mile 2, Olodi-Apapa, Apapa, Festac, Satellite Town, all the way to Trade fair and further down – gets flooded and life literally comes to a standstill. I started getting phone calls filled with trepidation. But my faith was firm; the rain was showers of blessings to usher in the D-day.
The rain eventually stopped and Urhobo sons and daughters in Lagos started trickling into Admiralty Conference Centre, venue of the gathering of prominent sons and daughters of Urhobo resident in Lagos, tagged A DAY WITH URHOBO SOCIAL CLUB. After the opening prayers led by a Past President of the club, Special Most Evangelist Emmanuel Evue, rendered in flawless Urhobo, to the admiration of all present, the President of Urhobo Social Club, Lagos, Prince Austin Enajemo-Isire, quickly set the tone of the gathering in his opening speech: “Even though today’s gathering is at the instance of Urhobo Social Club, Lagos, the business of the day transcends the club. We are here today as Urhobos in Lagos to talk about the Urhobo Nation at this critical stage of the corporate existence of Nigeria as a Nation.”
And “talk” we did. The presentations focused mainly on the theme of the gathering: URHOBO UNITY, PROGRESS AND WAY FORWARD. It is no longer news that the Urhobo Nation is deeply divided, a division foisted on us by a few key political actors to serve their selfish end. The bitter taste of the seed of division they sowed is still very much with us over a decade later. The division has turned Urhobo Nation into a giant with clay feet. Major issues, including who emerges governor in Delta State, have been accomplished in the last decade in our small Delta, in spite of Urhobos, not to talk of Nigeria. Yet we mouth the fourth largest ethnic nationality in Nigeria without the bite to back it up.
This makes it “imperative for the Urhobo Nation to stick together like a bunch of broom and become a formidable entity, fulfilling its enormous potential,” Isire rightly observed. Urhobo unity is not about using the accompanying size and strength to oppress others, as some people erroneously believe. A united Urhobo Nation is of benefit to the Urhobo people as well as the rest of Delta and the Niger Delta. The drums of restructuring are sounding louder; no matter what happens at the end of the day, the components units that make up Nigeria must discuss the way forward for Nigeria as a nation. When push comes to shove, a fragmented Urhobo Nation will be a liability to the rest of the Delta State and the Niger Delta.
Predictably, some people both within and without Urhoboland are apprehensive over a united Urhobo nation. A united Urhobo Nation is bad news to the status quo which they represent. But no matter how long you hold people captive, when the time for freedom comes, you stand in the way at your own peril. Ask Pharaoh. The destiny of the Urhobo people is in their hands and when they decide to bond as one, at least substantially, there is nothing anybody can do about it.
But I must quickly add that the Urhobo Nation must live peacefully and engender love with its neighbours so that the pervading cloud of suspicion can be lifted. Many of us have achieved this at the individual level, why can’t it be manifested at inter ethnic level. Many Urhobos, in any case, have roots in Delta South and Delta North, so we should really be at peace with one another, but for the divide and rule by those who benefit from the divisions. I am Urhobo, but paternally, I have roots in Olomoro and maternally in Enwhe, both in Isoko. That was why I felt totally at home as general secretary, Isoko Students Union at the University of Nigeria. You cannot separate Abraka and Orogun people from the Ukwuanis. You cannot separate Urhobo people in Warri from the Itsekiris. We might have differences, but we should lay more emphasis on what binds us than what separates us. Spouses and siblings quarrel and resolve their differences; why can’t it be so among ethnicities. Tongue and teeth often quarrel and the teeth occasionally give the tongue bloody and painful bites, but they still manage to cohabit. At this critical stage of our nationhood, it is important for all ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta to have internal cohesion and also live together peacefully.
But peaceful coexistence can only strive when there is justice, equity and fairness. And you do not go to equity with filthy hands. We cannot legitimately complain about injustice from others when we do the same thing to ourselves here in Delta and the Niger Delta. Elections are at hand and we need to make some people scapegoats. Any governor, local government chairman, legislator or other elected officials who worked only for his village or local government instead of his entire constituency or state should not be allowed to come back. They should be shown the way via ballot box. We should be party blind when it comes to issues equity, fairness and justice.
Anyway, back to the gathering of Urhobos in Lagos, it is the wish of Urhobo Social Club that Urhobos in Lagos have a convergence point in Lagos where we can discuss, articulate and come up with a common front. This does not necessarily mean shedding our individual or club identities, (including party affiliations, I dare add) but even in diversity, we can be united for the common good and future of the Urhobo Nation. Urhobos in Lagos have a strategic role to play in moving the Urhobo Nation forward.
In his contribution, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of Urhobo Social Club, also lamented how disunity has brought the Urhobo Nation to its knees, he particularly condemned the policy of Omote om’ohwofa (a daughter belongs to another family by virtue of marriage). He said this policy has alienated Urhobo women, especially those married to men from other ethnic groups. For Barovbe, “seeking unity includes bringing our married daughters and our sons-in-law closer to us. They are part of us.”
Also speaking, Chief Goodie Ibru harped on a united Urhoboland. He said sons and daughters of Urhobo should be encouraged to set up industries to provide much needed employment in Urhoboland. But during his welcome speech, Isire had listed some obstacles which we need to be overcome for Ibru’s dream to come to fruition. Isire said “the more worrisome trend is that Urhoboland is turning to a land that is very hostile to investment and development. We have heard stories of Urhobo sons and daughters, who attempted to set up farms or companies back home to provide employment. They were chased away by their own people, the same people they are trying to give back to. This self-destruction must stop.”
Other speakers at the summit harped on the necessity for unity before Urhobo can make progress on all fronts. Amroma vughe (let us know ourselves and who we are) must be operationalised. Responding, the president General of Urhobo Progress Union Worldwide, Olorogun Moses Taiga, said he was at the gathering to listen more and talk less. But he confessed that all the speakers spoke his mind. Taiga said that the degree of “Urhobo Ovu-ovo” (Urhobo is one) exhibited by every Urhobo person is the principal basis of peace, growth and development of our beloved Urhobo nation. He re-emphasized the need for Urhobo Nation to speak with one voice and under the Urhobo Progress Union, the umbrella body of all Urhobos. “The cacophony of voices emanating from Urhobo on local, national and international issues, especially in the media, makes complete mockery of us as an ethnic nationality, and greatly calls to question our strength, structure and harmony. It also creates entry for others to penetrate our ranks. We must always speak as one; indivisible body…Urhobo can win again! Yes, we can achieve speedy growth and development, if we exorcise the demon of disunity, divisiveness and selfishness, fingered as threat to our progress as a people, Taiga added.
The communiqué of the gathering is expected to show the way forward. Many prominent Urhobo sons and daughters graced the occasion. They include: General Oviemo Ovadje (rtd), Chief Joe Idudu, Ambassador Dan Arhavwarien, Chief Hope Gbagi, Professor Hope Eghagha, Prof. Joe Abugu, Chief Simeon Ohwofa, Chief Omah Odoh-Tadafe, Chief Samson Okuesa, Barr Mike Igini, Mr. Mudiaga Enajemo( Mudi of Africa), Olorogun Johnny Esike. Mr. Abraham Ogbodo, Mr. Eddy Odivwri, Chief Lucky Arhere, Chief Bernard Okumagba, Special Ven. Isaac Ogilo, Chief Joe Idudu, Chief Robinson Eregare, Olrogun Jacob Diedjomahor, Chief and Mrs. Andrew Desi, Chief Samson Okuesa, Mr. Ovie Oghenekaro, Hon. Emma Egoh, Chief Onajomo Orere, Mr. Tony Akposheri, Chief Stephen Ogefere, Dr. Isaac Feludu, Mr. Edmund Enaibe, Olorogun Emmanuel Edekunu, Elder Uba Mrowhobor, Mrs. Joyce Tuedor, Ms. Miranda Mosheshe, Mrs. Emuobo Salubi, Mr. John Onojeharho, Mr. Okpako Erhirhe, Mr. Palmer Ikuku, Mr. Samuel Orovwudje, Mr. Ese Omosivwe among many others.
Mr. Francis Ewherido is the General Secretary, Urhobo Social Club, Lagos